Sugar trade spat between U.S. and Mexico

Tuesday, March 14, 2017 - 01:05

Mexico would seek to block U.S. high-fructose corn syrup from entering Mexico if the United States imposes any tariffs on Mexican sugar, the head of Mexico's sugar industry association said on Monday. Laura Frykberg reports.

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Relations between the U.S. and Mexico are already sour...
But they could get even more bitter as a trade dispute gains steam.
A call by Washington for tariffs on sugar imports from across the border has been met with a threat from those in the Mexican industry.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JUAN CORTINA, MEXICO'S SUGAR CHAMBER PRESIDENT, SAYING:
"U.S. fructose produce is on the table to be blocked, if access to the American market is cancelled for us."
Last week Mexico refused to grant U.S. export permits to its sugar producers.
The two countries have since agreed to try and resolve the issue.
Mexico even offering a sweeten the deal.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JUAN CORTINA, MEXICO'S SUGAR CHAMBER PRESIDENT, SAYING:
"We are willing to yield a little in the percentage of the refined sugar we send to the U.S. to help secure an agreement."
Mexico supplies more sugar to the US than any other country.
A plus side to this war of words perhaps, a possible reduction of U.S. waistlines.

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